Robin Townsend told the UKAD hearing that a longstanding dispute with a fellow rider led to his bottle being spiked with modafinil before he tested positive Banned amateur cyclist Robin Townsend told his hearing with UK Anti-Doping that he believes his drink was spiked by a longtime rival ahead of the 100-mile time trial he tested positive in.

Townsend, the reigning 12-hour time trial champion, was handed a four-year ban by UKAD after testing positive for stimulant modafinil after the Burton and District Alliance 100-mile event on September 5.

The decision document released by UKAD on Thursday revealed the “only possible explanation” he could provide was that his sample was “spiked at the event”.

Townsend even went as far to offer the name of the person who he believes spiked the drink, telling the hearing that he was and remains in fear of the man – whose name was redacted from the document – which UKAD accepted.

The hearing heard of incidences of hostility between Townsend and the alleged spiker during a longstanding dispute, also involving Townsend’s partner Denise Bayliss.

The unnamed man reportedly sent Ms Bayliss a threatening text message on September 30, 2014, which they reported to the CTT. UKAD censored the […]